Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) has been implementing its Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Program with the technical and financial support from American Red Cross and the IFRC in the coastal belt of Bangladesh since 2017. The Disaster and Climate Risk Management (DCRM) department of BDRCS has been working with the local government and its flagship joint program with the government, the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP), to support at-risk coastal communities adapt to the escalating risks of frequent extreme weather events and adverse climate change impacts. This program has been implemented in 45 communities in four of the most at-risk districts in the southwestern coastal belt, i.e., Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Khulna and Pirojpur.
The program is currently in its 4th phase and aims to enhance community level preparedness with the advancement of relevant national level systems that will contribute to more effective and sustainable local level preparedness and response actions by the National Society through informed Forecast based Actions (FbA).
Project Information
Quarterly Report
FY 2024 Q2 | FY 2024 Q3 | FY 2024 Q4
FY 2025 Q1 | FY 2025 Q2 | FY 2025 Q3 | FY 2025 Q4
FY 2026 Q1 | FY 2026 Q2 | FY 2026 Q3
The program started with 8 communities in Bagerhat and Patuakhali in Phase 1 from 2017-2019, expanding the program to 17 new communities within the same two districts along with the new district of Khulna in Phase 2 from 2020-2021. In Phase 3 from 2022-2025, the program graduated from the 20 communities (8 from Phase 1 & 12 from Phase 2) and expanded to 8 new communities, of which, 4 communities were in Bagerhat and the rest of the 4 communities were in Khulna. In the current phase from 2025-2027, the program has continued to work in 13 existing wards and expanded to 12 new at-risk wards in Pirojpur.
Duration – (July 2017- December 2027)
Geography – 45 Communities/Wards
Patuakhali District – Kalapara sub-district (10 communites) – phased out in December 2022
Pirojpur District – Zianagar sub-district (12 communities)
Bagerhat District – Sarankhola sub-district (10 communities) – phased out in December 2024
Morrelganj sub-District (4 communities)
Khulna District – Paikgachha sub-district (9 communities)
Target Population
20,928 households | 88,025 target members
Goal: The impact of disasters and adverse climate change on coastal communities is reduced through sustained preparedness, adaptation, early warning, Anticipatory Action and response capacities of community, local and national actors in a coordinated manner.
Outcome #1: Individuals and communities build their knowledge of disaster and climate risk; self-organize and take individual and collective action to establish a culture of preparedness and reinforce their networks and connectedness. (Community Preparedness)
Outcome #2: National Society Development initiatives are in place that enable BDRCS to engage in disaster preparedness and climate action with credibility and accountability. (National Society Development)
Outcome #3: BDRCS humanitarian service delivery in managing complex multi-dimensional risks is enhanced through partnerships, coordination and strategic positioning. (Partnership & Coordination)
Major Focus Area
- Community Preparedness
- Youth in Climate Action
- Women Empowerment
- Enhancing Early Warning & Early Action System
- Strengthening Local Disaster Management Governance System
- National Society Development
- Partnership & Coordination
Achievements (July 2017 – Till Date)
- 45 Community/Ward Disaster Management Committees are trained and equipped to organize, connect and facilitate to take action to deal with complex disasters
- 20,928 individual household level Disaster Preparedness plans and 45 Community action plans developed aimed at reducing vulnerabilities to disaster, climate change impact, socioeconomic and health threats developed
- 3,260 CPP volunteers and 620 CDRT members trained and equipped to disseminate early warning, ensure shelter management and facilitate evacuation in the community
- 4,766 female community members received training on alternative climate-smart skill development livelihood options for disaster preparedness
- Small scale DRR mitigation schemes
- Expanded CPP into 3 new sub-districts addressing the impacts of extreme weather events
- Disaster risk governance strengthened from the root level considering the mandate mentioned in Standing Orders on Disaster
- Activated USD 350,000 (approx.) of Quick Action Fund (QAF) during different disasters
- MoDMR supported to organize national level disaster awareness events, such as National Lightning Seminar, Cyclone Amphan, Sitrang Lessons Learned Workshop.
- District level disaster governance supported to be able to extend services to the most vulnerable through orientations on Standing Orders on Disaster
- National Society Development – Climate Change Strategy, Cash Readiness, Information Management (IM) & Community Engagement & Accountability (CEA)
- Partnership with BMD, FFWC, Google, ICCCAD, Khulna University for disaster and climate risk reduction actions
